MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has fined a former executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for his alleged involvement in drafting an ill-advised car plan for employees.
Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez of the anti-graft court's Sixth Division, in a decision dated Oct. 2 and released Tuesday, found Ronilo Beronio guilty of violation of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) and was sentenced to pay a fine of PHP15,000.
Beronio had originally been charged along with former agriculture secretary Arthur Yap of conspiring to draft the PhilRice Car Plan amounting to PHP15.8 million that allowed beneficiary-employees to obtain personal loans from the Philippine National Bank (PNB) for the purchase of their private cars.
The loans were secured by PhilRice funds through Hold Out Agreements (HOA) with the PNB. Under the agreement, PhilRice's deposit with the PNB will not be withdrawn until the car loans are paid in full.
The purchased cars were bought without the benefit of public bidding with beneficiary employees still entitled to transportation allowance despite the use of an official vehicle.
Beronio, along with his co-accused, were charged with graft under RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act but subsequently withdrew his "not guilty" plea and agreed to enter "guilty" plea, the lesser grave charge of violation of RA 6713.
Last year, the Supreme Court issued a resolution stopping the charges against Yap in the controversy after the latter sought an injunction.
Citing grave abuse of discretion, amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction, Yap questioned before the SC the Sandiganbayan’s decision in pursuing the case against him.
Yap has earlier said that he and another PhilRice official Remedios de Leon were not present during the meeting when the guidelines to govern the PhilRice Car Plan were allegedly approved and ratified. The Ombudsman dropped the complaint against de Leon and she was not charged before the Sandiganbayan.
Associate Justices Karl Miranda and Kevin Narce Vivero concurred in the decision. (PNA)
